LISW Practice Exam – Licensed Independent Social Worker (Comprehensive Licensing Exam
Preparation Material)
A social worker has terminated therapy with an adult client and afterwards receives a subpoena
to release the client's record, what should the social worker do first?
A) not release the record under any circumstances
B)refuse to release the records until an attorney has been consulted
C) contact the client to obtain consent
D) Provide the info, unless the client is considered mentally unstable - correct answer ✔✔C)
assert privilege and try to obtain client consent
A Social worker has terminated therapy with a child and afterwards receives a subpoena to
release the client's records, what should the social worker do?
A) not release the record under any circumstances
B)refuse to release the records until an attorney has been consulted
C) contact the client to obtain consent
D) Provide the info, unless the client is considered mentally unstable - correct answer ✔✔C) Be
sure to get permission from legal guardians first before releasing records
As a supervisor, it is important to realize that different social workers may have different
theoretical backgrounds. For example, one social worker may employ a "psychodynamic"
approach, while another may use a "cognitive behavioral" approach. When taking into account
these different treatments approaches supervisees under her direction could use the supervisor
should?
A) For all supervisees review established guidelines for practice, regardless of their varying
practice approaches
B) only supervise social workers that practice in a manner similar to the supervisor
C) This issues is not relevant to the practice of SW
,D) Assume that, regardless of their orientation, all SW under her direction will always maintain
professionalism - correct answer ✔✔A) Get all SW that you supervise to follow the established
guideline for practice, regardless of their varying practice approaches
Pete a 5 yo child is told he will need an operation that involved inserting a catheter into the
child's groin. The procedure was explained to him. Pete sates that he is not afraid of the
operation but is worried about the catheterization. From a Psychodynamic POV his anxiety
stems from
A) Fear of Mutilation
B) Fear of parental separation
C) Fear of pain
D) Fear of annihilation - correct answer ✔✔A) fear of mutilation. The child is afraid that he will
be harmed by the procedure and focuses on the concrete aspects of it
The most common psychological cause of sexual dysfunction's are generally related to
A) Fear and anxiety
B) Depression
C) Impotence
D) Ignorance - correct answer ✔✔A) Fear and anxiety cause sexual dysfunction
According to the NASW Ethical Code, which of the following is true with regards to
confidentially?
A) Because they are easily Misinterpreted, Clients should not have access to their SW reports
B) SW should never share confidences revealed by clients without their verbal consents
C) SW Should obtain informed consents from clients before tape recoding therapy sessions
D)NASW does not discuss ethics - correct answer ✔✔C) The only one that is true is the
importance of SWs to obtain informed consent from clients before tape recording a therapy
session
,A SWer has been contacted to evaluate a 5 yo boy. His teacher claims that he is bullying the
other children and often makes menacing or sexual gestures towards the other children when
he does not get his way. Upon the interview, the SW should assess the possibility of...
A) ADHD
B) Sexual Abuse
C) Parental neglect
D) Conduct disorder - correct answer ✔✔B) This type of behavior is very unusual for such a
young child and warrants investigations
A SW is seeing a couple in therapy that are parents of a 17 yo male and are concerned that the
son is dating an older 19 yo female. The parents suspect that they may be sexually involved and
want to know if they can report the girlfriend for child abuse, since their son is a minor. The SW
should advise the parents that:
A) The SW has no choice and she will now need to report the situation
B) the son clearly needs further individual therapy
C) Explore their concerns further as the situation does not necessarily indicate a situation that is
reportable
D) Tell the parents to report the GF immediately - correct answer ✔✔C) this is not a clear case
of abuse. It sounds like both individuals are consenting's and there is no indication evidence
that anything has occurred that is harmful to the male
Although there is a legal definition of intoxication, what is the most important consideration for
the social worker to take into account during the assessment process related to an individual
who appears intoxicated?
A) Some individuals show no signs of alcohol consumption
B) all individuals show obvious signs of intoxication
C) Some individuals become intoxicated even if they have no yet reached the legal limit
D) intoxication is no always alcohol related - correct answer ✔✔C) It is very important to know
that metabolism, body size, and weight etc. Can affect how intoxicated a person gets. Some can
and do become intoxicated even if they have not yet reached the legal limit
, In the first session with a couple, the couple tells you that one of the partners has tested HIV
positive. The SW has never worked with anyone with HIV before. During therapy, it becomes
clear that the infected partner is having difficulty expressing his feelings and appears hostile and
angry towards other partner. It is reported that the infected partner is also having difficulty
preforming everyday tasks. The SW should first?
A) refer the couple to a therapist more skilled in the area
B) help the infected partner to process his expected loss of function
C) Explore further the relationship issues which may arise because of the illness
D) Consider your own feelings about treating gay couples before proceeding with therapy -
correct answer ✔✔C) although, its true to recognize your own feelings and how you feel about
treating a gay couple, once in the initial session, the first thing the SW should do is address the
crisis of the issues at hand, which involves the relationship (communication) issue. If need be,
after helping the couple to recognize and address the issues the referral to anther therapist can
be made.
Your Client is a 23 yo woman, who recently divorced and is seeing a SW in order to assist her in
adapting to her new life situation. During one session, the woman appears to be particularly
anxious and states that she is suddenly feeling "out of control" The SW should first
A) Call the police
B) Refer for Medical Evaluation
C) Consider safety issues of others around her
D) Assess the woman's definition of "out of control" - correct answer ✔✔D) It is unclear what
the client means by "Out of control" and she must be asked first to clarify.
A Social Worker is forming a group of teenagers in transition. One of the most important
considerations for establishing membership in a therapy group is?
A) Diagnoses
B) Cohesion of the group members
C) Race
Preparation Material)
A social worker has terminated therapy with an adult client and afterwards receives a subpoena
to release the client's record, what should the social worker do first?
A) not release the record under any circumstances
B)refuse to release the records until an attorney has been consulted
C) contact the client to obtain consent
D) Provide the info, unless the client is considered mentally unstable - correct answer ✔✔C)
assert privilege and try to obtain client consent
A Social worker has terminated therapy with a child and afterwards receives a subpoena to
release the client's records, what should the social worker do?
A) not release the record under any circumstances
B)refuse to release the records until an attorney has been consulted
C) contact the client to obtain consent
D) Provide the info, unless the client is considered mentally unstable - correct answer ✔✔C) Be
sure to get permission from legal guardians first before releasing records
As a supervisor, it is important to realize that different social workers may have different
theoretical backgrounds. For example, one social worker may employ a "psychodynamic"
approach, while another may use a "cognitive behavioral" approach. When taking into account
these different treatments approaches supervisees under her direction could use the supervisor
should?
A) For all supervisees review established guidelines for practice, regardless of their varying
practice approaches
B) only supervise social workers that practice in a manner similar to the supervisor
C) This issues is not relevant to the practice of SW
,D) Assume that, regardless of their orientation, all SW under her direction will always maintain
professionalism - correct answer ✔✔A) Get all SW that you supervise to follow the established
guideline for practice, regardless of their varying practice approaches
Pete a 5 yo child is told he will need an operation that involved inserting a catheter into the
child's groin. The procedure was explained to him. Pete sates that he is not afraid of the
operation but is worried about the catheterization. From a Psychodynamic POV his anxiety
stems from
A) Fear of Mutilation
B) Fear of parental separation
C) Fear of pain
D) Fear of annihilation - correct answer ✔✔A) fear of mutilation. The child is afraid that he will
be harmed by the procedure and focuses on the concrete aspects of it
The most common psychological cause of sexual dysfunction's are generally related to
A) Fear and anxiety
B) Depression
C) Impotence
D) Ignorance - correct answer ✔✔A) Fear and anxiety cause sexual dysfunction
According to the NASW Ethical Code, which of the following is true with regards to
confidentially?
A) Because they are easily Misinterpreted, Clients should not have access to their SW reports
B) SW should never share confidences revealed by clients without their verbal consents
C) SW Should obtain informed consents from clients before tape recoding therapy sessions
D)NASW does not discuss ethics - correct answer ✔✔C) The only one that is true is the
importance of SWs to obtain informed consent from clients before tape recording a therapy
session
,A SWer has been contacted to evaluate a 5 yo boy. His teacher claims that he is bullying the
other children and often makes menacing or sexual gestures towards the other children when
he does not get his way. Upon the interview, the SW should assess the possibility of...
A) ADHD
B) Sexual Abuse
C) Parental neglect
D) Conduct disorder - correct answer ✔✔B) This type of behavior is very unusual for such a
young child and warrants investigations
A SW is seeing a couple in therapy that are parents of a 17 yo male and are concerned that the
son is dating an older 19 yo female. The parents suspect that they may be sexually involved and
want to know if they can report the girlfriend for child abuse, since their son is a minor. The SW
should advise the parents that:
A) The SW has no choice and she will now need to report the situation
B) the son clearly needs further individual therapy
C) Explore their concerns further as the situation does not necessarily indicate a situation that is
reportable
D) Tell the parents to report the GF immediately - correct answer ✔✔C) this is not a clear case
of abuse. It sounds like both individuals are consenting's and there is no indication evidence
that anything has occurred that is harmful to the male
Although there is a legal definition of intoxication, what is the most important consideration for
the social worker to take into account during the assessment process related to an individual
who appears intoxicated?
A) Some individuals show no signs of alcohol consumption
B) all individuals show obvious signs of intoxication
C) Some individuals become intoxicated even if they have no yet reached the legal limit
D) intoxication is no always alcohol related - correct answer ✔✔C) It is very important to know
that metabolism, body size, and weight etc. Can affect how intoxicated a person gets. Some can
and do become intoxicated even if they have not yet reached the legal limit
, In the first session with a couple, the couple tells you that one of the partners has tested HIV
positive. The SW has never worked with anyone with HIV before. During therapy, it becomes
clear that the infected partner is having difficulty expressing his feelings and appears hostile and
angry towards other partner. It is reported that the infected partner is also having difficulty
preforming everyday tasks. The SW should first?
A) refer the couple to a therapist more skilled in the area
B) help the infected partner to process his expected loss of function
C) Explore further the relationship issues which may arise because of the illness
D) Consider your own feelings about treating gay couples before proceeding with therapy -
correct answer ✔✔C) although, its true to recognize your own feelings and how you feel about
treating a gay couple, once in the initial session, the first thing the SW should do is address the
crisis of the issues at hand, which involves the relationship (communication) issue. If need be,
after helping the couple to recognize and address the issues the referral to anther therapist can
be made.
Your Client is a 23 yo woman, who recently divorced and is seeing a SW in order to assist her in
adapting to her new life situation. During one session, the woman appears to be particularly
anxious and states that she is suddenly feeling "out of control" The SW should first
A) Call the police
B) Refer for Medical Evaluation
C) Consider safety issues of others around her
D) Assess the woman's definition of "out of control" - correct answer ✔✔D) It is unclear what
the client means by "Out of control" and she must be asked first to clarify.
A Social Worker is forming a group of teenagers in transition. One of the most important
considerations for establishing membership in a therapy group is?
A) Diagnoses
B) Cohesion of the group members
C) Race
